Letter from Jonas Livingston, 23 January 1850
Claremont
Brother Woodruff
Dear sir—Your kind favour came
duly to hand in due time, and I have carefully Examined
its contence, with pleasure—although much of the information
which it contains, I had already obtained, through the Fronteir
Gardian, and from other sources, for although I have been far
distant from the Saints, I have taken pains to keep myself
informed of their doings, and its gives me much pleasure
to here of there prosperity, at there newe home.
You ask me to settle up my bussness in the States and go
with you company to the Salt Lake next spring, if I
could see my way clear to do so, I think I should be
much inclined to make the attempt, but the situation of
my famely is such, together with my bussness affaies
that it will not be practible, for me to go for a yeare or
two yet, you may think by these Excuses that I do not intend
to Ever go, but if I know myself which I acknowlage is much
for a man to know, I do intend, to make anothr trial to
git an inheritance among the Saints, at some futer time
to myself yet unknown, my makeing the attempt once
has not dishartened me, although I was betrayed by
men, who I had fed & Lodged in my House, and made them
welcom, thinking I was doing the will of him who sees all
over
